Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Treasure trove of vintage Arab film posters hidden in Beirut
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Asia Pacific
World
Treasure trove of vintage Arab film posters hidden in Beirut
AFP - Monday, July 5
Send
IM Story
Print
Treasure trove of vintage Arab film posters hidden in Beirut
BEIRUT (AFP) - – Deep under Beirut's busiest shopping district lies a treasure trove of the Arab world's film history where movie buff Abbudi Abu Jawdeh has amassed vintage film posters spanning some 80 years
What started as a childhood passion today offers a rare and little known pictorial record of Egyptian, Syrian, Iraqi, Palestinian and Lebanese films, including many that no longer exist, lost over time because of wars, fires or simple neglect.
"I have loved cinema since I was a child and every Sunday, rather than go to church I would head to the movie theatre," said the 52-year-old Abu Jawdeh, who runs a publishing house in Beirut's Hamra district where his collection is stored.
"Then as I got older I would set off on foot from my house in Burj Hammud (on the outskirts of Beirut) every Sunday and stop at each of the 40 movie theatres on the way to the capital to admire the posters and pictures on display," he added. "This is where I developed my passion."
His private collection consists of 20,000 posters of 5,000 films and includes what is likely the largest collection of Lebanese film posters going back to the 1950s and featuring legends of the silver screen such as Lebanese singing divas Fayruz and Sabah as well as actors such as Samira Tufic, Shams El Barudi and Abdel Halim Hafez.
The vibrantly coloured posters drawn by well-known artists of the time have become collector's items and offer a walk down memory lane, reflecting the changing cultures and styles of the past century.
"The oldest poster I have is of a 1933 Egyptian movie called 'Al Warda al Baydaa' (The White Rose) and the oldest Lebanese poster is of a 1958 movie entitled 'Al Shams La Tagheeb' (The Sun Never Sets)," said Abu Jawdeh.
Many posters, which were printed using the process of stone lithography, include movies with daring titles such as "Laheeb Al Jasad" (Body Heat), "Mariam Al Khatiaa" (Mariam the Sinner), "Nisaa Muharrama" (Forbidden Women) or "Imraa Likul Al Rijal" (A Woman for All Men) and portray actresses in provocative poses and skimpy outfits that would never make it past censors in today's increasingly conservative Arab world.
"No one would dare print such posters today," Abu Jawdeh said. "These images represent a lost art and the golden age of poster production when many of the artists who drew them were Armenian or Greek and copied the genre of their Western counterparts."
Frank Mermier, an anthropologist and former head of the French Near East Institute (IFPO) in Beirut who is familiar with Abu Jawdeh's collection, said the collection bears witness to the history of the Arab, and more particularly the Lebanese film industry.
"These posters are a mine of information and are very important as far as the history of film in Lebanon and the Middle East," Mermier, now based in Paris, told AFP. "And the artistic aspect is very interesting ... as there are various themes addressed including militant cinema and how women were portrayed at the time."
Abu Jawdeh, who has travelled the Middle East to build up his collection since the 1970s, said his dream is to set up an institute where his posters would be well preserved and where aficionados like himself can admire them.
And he may get his wish as the French embassy in Beirut is considering allocating funds toward that end, a French diplomat told AFP.
In the meantime, Abu Jawdeh can continue enjoying spending at least two hours a day pampering his posters.
"When I need to relax, I look at them as they take me back to my childhood and to an age where I had no responsibilities," he said wistfully.
"They carry so much detail and many are more beautiful to look at than the film itself."
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary Reuters - 1 hour 47 minutes ago
New "Twilight" sequel earns less than predecessor Reuters - 1 hour 47 minutes ago
'Twilight' eclipses weekend box office competition AFP - 2 hours 36 minutes ago
Treasure trove of vintage Arab film posters hidden in Beirut AFP - Monday, July 5
Zubin Mehta conducts Israel concert for captive soldier AFP - Monday, July 5
News Search
Top Stories
Japanese probe yields insights into Moon's inner life
Awesome Nadal crushes Berdych to win Wimbledon
Clinton presses Azerbaijan-Armenia peace efforts
US 'ready to help' Azerbaijan, Armenia on peace deal
ECB chief rules out risk of new recession
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Lady Gaga leads race to get 10 million on Facebook
Paris Hilton arrested after Brazil World Cup match: reports
Supertanker skims oil as spill now worst accident on record
Finland takes first place at wife-carrying championship
India preens over new airport terminal
More Most Viewed »
Aussie men shoot each other in buttocks 'to see if it hurts'
Amputee cat gets bionic legs
Fans gather for Michael Jackson death anniversary
Who's right - the dolphin or the octopus?
Disgraced millionaire lobbyist takes pizza job
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
World Cup 2010
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Monday, 5 July 2010 Israeli minister to meet Palestinian PM
Syria jails elderly government critic for 3 years
Two French ministers quit in row over perks
Israeli minister to meet Palestinian PM
|
Biden nudges Iraqi leaders to end deadlock
Pope in plea for a bit of quiet
Japanese probe yields insights into Moon's inner life
U.S.-Russian ties will not be harmed: Medvedev
|
Awesome Nadal crushes Berdych to win Wimbledon
Two scandal-tainted French junior ministers resign
|
Clinton presses Azerbaijan-Armenia peace efforts
Four die in Iraq suicide bomb attack
Ecuador busts first ever fully functional drug sub
|
Jailed PKK leader says peace with Turkey possible: report
|
Syria jails elderly government critic for 3 years
|
Drug killings weigh as Mexican states vote
|
Nigerian gunmen release 12 foreign hostages
|
Egypt's Mubarak flies to Algeria on condolence trip
|
U.S.-Russian ties will not be harmed
China wants 'credible' Sudan referendum, Darfur solution
Thailand must lift emergency rule, hold polls: think-tank
West China city braces for deadly riot anniversary
Afghan gov't: 63 drug smugglers, terrorists killed
Asian economies see opportunity as China's lustre dims
China premier: economic environment 'complicated'
Last gasp for beer fest as Munich votes to ban smoking
'Twilight' eclipses weekend box office competition
Treasure trove of vintage Arab film posters hidden in Beirut
Zubin Mehta conducts Israel concert for captive soldier
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
New "Twilight" sequel earns less than predecessor
South African lesbians find refuge in football
Caravaggio remains go on display in Italy
New Twilight sequel earns less than predecessor
|
NATO: soldier killed on patrol in Afghanistan
Biden nudges Iraqi leaders to end deadlock
|
US-TECH Summary
Six killed in accident at Russian firing range
Hopes for peace with Afghan prisoner releases
Reforms in focus after Komorowski wins Polish election
|
Lenovo says Apple losing out in China: report
China convicts U.S. geologist of stealing state secrets
|
Jailed PKK leader says peace with Turkey possible
Mexico state elections stage battle for presidency
|
Petraeus takes over Afghan fight, vows 'to win' it
Special Report: China's new migrant workers pushing the line
|
China's far-west city held in check on bloody anniversary
|
Thais should lift emergency or risk violence says group
|
US geologist jailed for eight years in China
Detainee's death stirs anger in restive Thai south
Biden pushes for Iraq breakthrough
Support for Japan PM plunges in polls
Horses bolt during Iowa parade; 1 killed, 23 hurt
China to host new round of climate talks: report
First activist killed under new Philippine leader
Clinton pushes for Nagorno-Karabakh solution
China convicts U.S. geologist of stealing state secrets
Deadly suicide attack hits Pakistan troops: police
Rough weather curtails some Gulf cleanup work
China's far-west city held in check on bloody anniversary
NYC airport terminal reopens after false alarm
Japanese lab finds 'minute particles' in asteroid pod
Lenovo says Apple losing out in China: report
|
Australia urged to end asylum freeze and 'refugee-bashing'
Seoul shares inch up led by shipyards, steelmakers
Strike over fuel prices disrupts cities in India
RPT-Risk of slower NZ growth increases
Lenovo says Apple missing huge opportunities in China
PAKISTAN
South African pilgrims bring vuvuzelas to pray
South Korea fails to make it into Citigroup's WGBI
Show gathers both heirs to marvel at Picasso, Klee
South Korea bonds down; muted to failed WGBI inclusion
No justice for Haiti's women inmates
S.Korea bonds down; muted to failed WGBI inclusion
We have a 'wiener': American eats the most hot dogs
Seoul shares edge up; STX Offshore jumps
RPT-PREVIEW-Taiwan June CPI seen up 0.89 pct y/y
Jailed Kurdish children a blight on Turkey's future
Lower German deficit an example for Europe: Berlin
Turkey wants Israel apology but Israel rejects demand
Interpol asks Web surfers to help catch fugitives
Iran says Germany, UK, UAE deny fuel to its planes
|
Restive Iraq provinces defy U.S. withdrawal timeline
BP oil spill costs spike above $3 bln
Iraq troops and Kurd fighters clash in volatile north
|
Swiss show brings heirs to discuss Picasso, Klee
Turkey wants Israel apology, but Israel rejects demand
|
Kyrgyz leader warns of risk of further violence
|
Palestinian PM meets Israeli minister
|
Guinea bans vote protests before court verdict
|
Body of chess champion Fischer exhumed in Iceland
|
China deploys troops for Xinjiang riot anniversary
French parliament to vote on proposed veil ban
|
India rocked by strike over fuel prices
Eight to be charged over Indonesia sex videos
Hillary Clinton blasts Russia on Georgia visit
US geologist jailed for eight years in China
Seoul wants 'clear and firm' UN message to N.Korea
Hotdoggin' it: Ex-champ crashes NYC eating contest
Derided no more, suburban life is turning serious
Pakistani stocks thin, index edges lower
Shanghai composite index hits 15-month low
Anil Ambani's RNRL shares dive after merger
Japan trading house buys into US lithium producer
China revises up Q1 current account surplus
Thailand's Banpu bids for Australia coal firm
Private detectives: a pre-nuptial priority for some in India
Vietnam breaks ground on US$1.2bn coal power plant
Paris Hilton questioned by police after Cup match
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights